San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-22

nette. w nat ne says SOUNDS lalf.
"Yes, II sounds fair, but It's only DEVILS
trick. This villain wants TO find out your
home.'
do not believe him" said the soldier TO
Ninette. Truly, | am sincere. 1t would
be against my manhood 10 leave you with
this old beggar unless | know he has a
right
But he has" she answered. Ale lives
with us in our poor home"
"Ahl girl, that excuse has served many q
maiden when danger threatened her lover.
| cannot believe that the roof which honOrs
itself by sheltering you is also disgraced by
this ragged pauper, except that the mischief
has already been done, and that you are liy-
ing alone with him in shame"
Ragged she exclaimed impatiently,
''why, am scarcely less So"
but your beauty idealiZes yours. They
are made invisible by your face, while this
old vagabOnd is not so favored"
He looked at her in rapt wOndenment en-
tirely falling to understand why, in her in
nocence, she only saw insOlence IN her allu-
sion to the old mans rags. He doubted IL
she was full-witted; TO the grOssly-minded
there is no innocence save in imbeciles and
In babes
and half in contempt, old Antonio was more
active. He had crept noiselessly and unnO-
ticed to the soldiers side, and his fingers
were reaching out for the impudent fellows
sword. Suddenly the old artist clutched the
hllt and snatched the coveted weapon from
its sheath.
Now, sir soldier" he cried, you shall
dance while fiddle"
a(,iya m hnak IN SNyDrI OlI " said
the soldier. Surely you will not take my
| testing so illyY'
"Oh, no; why should l? II was most ex-
cellent testing, and only puts me in humOr
for Jest or two myself. Now, Ninette,
hurry home, and will keep this jolly sold
Ter until you are out of harms way. Ii he
does not stand still I'll run him through, and
| with his own blade. That's another Jest,
and one which can be appreciated even by
those who wear no uniforms"
II think you are wrong, Father Antonio.
l am sure he meant us no harm, though 1t
was not respectful Of him to speak as he did
of your rags"
The soldiers eyes moved from the girls
| face to the old mans.
Tell me-" he said, ''if this woman Is a
| fool. Her eyes seem bright enough, but she
talks as if her wits were dull"
80 far as sinful knowledge is concerned
| she is a child" said Antonio. "lf you and
| your fellOw-sOldiers tarry here long, though,
| I've no doubt she will become as apt as the
| other women you know"
A look of compassion came over the sold
ier's face.
what a pity to have her find out the
| truthp' he said with sigh.
| YES" said Antonio, ''and that is why l
took your sword"
You were right said the soldier. II
never saw such woman before. To be
honest, did mean her harm, she is 80 beau
| tiful. But you could not make me injure
now-even with the point Of that sword at
my throat"
do you mean it?'' asked the old man,
eagerly.
II swear it, on my honor as a soldier. You
have right to doubt me, though. deserve
that"
81 believe you" said Antonio. 81 can see
truth in your eyes. Here is your sword"
| Give me your hand first"
The two men clasped hands first and then
Antonio slid the sword back into the sheath
he had taken it from.
Ninette watched them vaguely, as If she
had grave doubts of their sanity. Then she
picked up AntOniO's pencils and album ana
put them in his pouch. The sketch which
he had made of her could not be found,
| though Antonio and the soldier helped her
look for it.
The soldier amazed and bewildered, sat
down by the pool in silence. Near his hand
was the wreath which Ninette had made OF
the leaves and dead flowers. He picked II
up tenderly as il 1t had been living thing,
while reverent tears came into his eyes.
Antonio and the girl moved quietly away
France is worth lighting for, after all,
muttered the soldier. "0ne such woman is
worth all the lives in the French army"
When he aroused himself and arose to his
feet Ninette and the old man were out oil
sight.
1t hurt the soldier for moment TO think
that they had stolen away from him so, bu
still did not blame them.
st was wiseSt' he said sadly; "such {
jewel is not likely to be too jealousy guard
ed" And then he, too, walked slowly from
the grove
As he was emerging from the shelter o
theNtrees something rustlcd at his feet.
lt'was Antonios sketch of Ninette. Thu
wind had blown it there.
He picked it up, carried it with him to his
tent, and concealed it. But some prying ey'
spied out the secret of its hidmg-pIace, anC
it was shown to the general, a rough, cOars
brute, who respected neither innocence no
Virtue. The picture of the beautiful CIR
filed him with a desire TO see the girl her
self He at once had the soldier summoned
and piled him with questions.
The brave fellow had already resolved u
shield Ninette with his life, if any occasion
demanded it, and so he deliberately in
formed the general that twas merely fan
cy picture which he had found in shop II
Paris.
why did you bring it with you here
thenP' demanded the general
"Because-it is so beautiful"
Every well; | will keep il for the SAINT
reason, until find the original. But mari
you one thing; if find her near this oaml
you go into chains"
The soldier trembled as he walked away
He cared nothing about the chains. Ii
would wear them willingly, all his days,
that would only keep the girl safe from tn
general.
He must find Antonio, il possible, an
warn him to keep Ninette out of sight OF tn
general and his mniOns.
That very day he say the old man an
told him of the generals unhOly quest Blu
1t Brought about the very thing he was s
anxious to avoid. A spy overheard theL
and followed Antonio straight to Einett
and her father.
That night the soldier wasadragged iron
his tent, put in chains, and taken to his gen
eral. Once in the generals tent he knee
what His arrest meantN for there, undo
guard, and like him in chains, were Antoni